MLA quarters: Govt. rejects probe plea

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, APRIL 28. Even as the TMC raked up allegations of irregularities in the Rs. 47 crore MLA quarters being constructed at the Government estate in Chennai, the government today rejected the demand for a commission of enquiry into the issue.

Refuting the TMC's persistent charge of cost inflation in the MLA quarters construction, the Leader of the House and Education Minister, Mr. K. Anbazhagan, told the Assembly that since the quarters was being constructed for legislators, the House committee could look into the matter.

Earlier, raising the issue, during the debate on the demands of grants for the Housing department, TMC MLA, Mr. V. K. Lakshmanan charged that though the construction cost could not have possibly exceeded Rs. 800 per sq.ft, the government was paying Rs. 1,700 per sq.ft. A commission of enquiry should be instituted to probe into the alleged irregularities, he said.

Quickly denying the charge, the Housing Minister Mr. K. Pitchandi insisted that the construction cost worked to only Rs. 527 per sq.ft. The provision of other facilities like airconditioner, woodwork, garden and libraries had raised the rates to Rs. 720.80 per sq.ft, he said, adding that the Chief Minister had already given a detailed cost calculation of the project.

Intervening, Mr. S. Alagiri of TMC said, there could be no buildings without windows or doors and the construction cost always included the carpentry work as well. However, the Minister insisted that the contract for the project had been awarded to a Central government agency, Hindustan Steel Works Construction Ltd. which was the lowest bidder and there was no cost inflation whatsoever.

The Leader of the House, Mr. Anbazhagan, ended the discussion on the issue, firmly saying that a House Committee could look into the issue and an inquiry commission was not necessary.

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Section  : Regional
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